Air flow control apparatus

ABSTRACT

Air flow control apparatus for a room air conditioner includes oscillatable louvers for directing air discharged from the air conditioner in a sweeping motion throughout the space being conditioned. Power for oscillating the louvers is derived from a turbine device positioned in the stream of air caused to flow through the air conditioner. The sweep rate of the oscillatable louvers is controlled by a movable shield located in the air stream in advance of the turbine device, and selectively positionable to vary the quantity of air flowing over the turbine vanes. The shield includes a tab, which upon movement of the shield to the lowest turbine speed position, engages a turbine vane to halt rotation of the turbine device, thereby stopping oscillating movements of the louvers.

United States Patent 1151 3,699,873

Irvin Oct. 24, 1972 [54] AIR FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS 918,017 2/ 1963 Great Britain ..4l5/ 148 [72] Inventor: Albert H. Irvin, Richmond Ind 995,962 6/ 1965 Great Britain ..98/ I 16 [73] Assignee: Philco-Ford Corporation, Philadel- Primary Examiner-Henry F. Raduazo phia, Pa. Attorney-Robert D. Sanbom [22] Filed: June 14, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 152386 Air flow control apparatus for a room air conditioner includes oscillatable louvers for directing air [52] US. Cl. ..98/116, 415/125, 415/148, discharged from the air conditioner in a sweeping mo- 62/262 tion throughout the space being conditioned. Power [51] Int. Cl ..F04d 25/08, FOld 7/00, FOld 17/12 for oscillating the louvers is derived from a turbine [58] Field of Search ..415/ 125, 148; 98/113, 116, device positioned-in the stream of air caused to flow 98/40 VM, 110; 62/262 through the air conditioner. The sweep rate of the oscillatable louvers is controlled by a movable shield [56] References Cited located in the air stream in advance of the turbine device, and selectively positionable to vary the quanti- UNITED STATES PATENTS ty of air flowing over the turbine vanes. The shield in- 2,279,425 4/1942 Voysey ..4-15/148 eludes a tab, which p movement of the Shield to 2,706,596 4/1955 Hait ..415/125 the lowest turbine speed Position, e g a turbine 3,346,007 10/1967 Agnon ..98/110 vane to halt rotation of the turbine device, thereby 3,601,034 8/1971 Thorne ..98/110 pp Oscillating movements of the louvers- 3,64l,913 2/1972 Dennis ..9 8/1 10 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 206,409 2/1957 Australia ..4 1 5/125 PATENTED um 24 m2 AIR FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the control of air flow, for example the cooling air from a room air conditioner, apparatus often is provided for directing conditioned air in a sweeping motion throughout a room. Air flow control of this type has been achieved using movable louvers in combination with means for continuously moving them to sweep a room with conditioned air. The sweep rate is usually a fixed one, or at the most, as is the case with louvers actuated by turbine devices in the air stream, is a function of the speed of the main air conditioner fan. The present invention has as its general objective the provision of novel means for selecting a desired louver sweep rate substantially independently of the main fan speed, which means is characterized by simplicity of construction and effectiveness of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In achievement of the foregoing as well as other general objectives and advantages, the invention contemplates improvement in air flow control apparatus of the type including an air circulating fan, and turbine means disposed in the air flow path for driving cyclically movable louvers in the path of the circulating air, which improvement comprises movable shield means selectively positionable to vary the quantity of air flowing over said turbine means, thereby to control the rate of movement of the louvers.

The manner in which the foregoing objectives and advantages of the invention may best be achieved will be more fully understood from the following description taken in light of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational showing of the front panel of a conventional room air conditioner provided with air DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With more detailed reference to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, an air conditioner includes the usual outer shell 11 enclosing a conventional refrigerating unit assembly which, although not shown, includes a compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion device connected in the usual series flow circuit. A fan F (see FIG. 3) also is provided for moving room air inwardly of the housing through inlet ports 13 conveniently provided in decorative front panel 12, over the evaporator, thence outwardly of the housing through an elongated discharge port 14 in the upper re gion of the panel. The outlet port 14 is provided with louvers 15 that extend vertically and are parallel with one another. As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of louvers 15 is pivotal about a vertical axis defined by aligned projecting pins 16 that extend into corresponding openings 16a on top and bottom framing portions 12. Louvers 15 are interconnected by a rod 19 having openings 20 (FIG. 3) that receive vertically extending pins 21 supported on edge portions of each of the louvers. Through this arrangement, movements of rod 19 in the direction of its length will cause louvers 15 to pivot in unison about their vertical axes to change the direction of air as it is discharged through port 14.

Continuous, oscillatory movement of louvers 15 is achieved through air turbine means 22 located in the discharge air flow path of fan F, and operably coupled with rod 19. Turbine means 22 comprises a housing 23 mounted by suitable bracket means 24 on front panel 12 and enclosing conventional reduction gear means (not shown). A propeller type fan 25 is mounted on the higli-speed, input shaft 26 of the gear means. A crank arm 27 is carried by the low-speed, output shaft 28, and a pin 29 carried by the end of crank arm 27 extends into sliding engagement with side wall portions of a slot 30 in a link 31 pivotally mounted at 32 on the panel 12, for side-to-side rocking movements under the urging of pin 29 on rotating crank arm 27. Link 31 includes an offset, parallelly extending pin 33 projecting into a slot 34 on rod. 19. The construction and arrangement is such that rotation of the turbine fan 25 at relatively high speed, by flow of conditioned air forced thereover by fan F, rotates crank arm 27 at relatively low speed, causing crank pin 29 to rotate and to slide in slot 30 on link 31. This motion of pin 29 causes link 31 rotationally to oscillate about its pivot 32, thereby moving the rod 19 back and forth, through the agency of its pinand-slot connection 33, 34 to link 31. By this motion of rod 19, louvers 15 are pivotally oscillated, and air discharged therebetween it swept back and forth in the region being air conditioned.

In especial accordance with the invention, a lever 35 is pivoted for horizontal movement, at 36, within a slotted opening 42 in panel 12 just below turbine means 22. One end of lever 35 projects forwardly of panel 12 and includes a manual operating handle 37. The rear portion of lever 35 terminates in a transversely extending, vertical shield 38 that is movable, as lever 35 is pivoted. The shield 38 is movable in a region through which the discharge air stream from fan F flows to drive turbine fan 25. The trailing edge of shield 38 includes a tab 39 movable into position in which it is engaged by, and physically blocks rotation of, fan 25 when shield 38 is moved to position substantially completely blocking air flow thereover. Halting rotation of fan 25 stops movement of louvers l5, and fan 25 can be halted with sufficient ease to position the louvers as desired. In addition to its fan-stopping position, shield 38 can be moved to a number of other positions by manually operating lever 35. It will be appreciated that operation of lever 35, with resulting movements of shield 38 thereon, advantageously varies the quantity of air flowing over the turbine fan 25. Therefore, its speed of rotation is varied, consequently varying the louver speed in achievement of a variable air sweep rate. Sufficient friction to retain lever 35 in any one of its selected positions is derived from a leaf spring 40 so positioned on panel 12 as to be effective, in all positions of the lever, resiliently to bear against a projection 43 on the lever adjacent the end thereof that carries shield 38.

Additional air flow directional control is derived from manually tiltable, horizontally extending louvers 41 movable to desired fixed position independently of vertical louvers 15.

lclaim:

1. Air flow control apparatus comprising: means defininga port through which a stream of air may flow; air deflecting means disposed in the air stream caused to flow through said port; means supporting said air deflecting means for movement in said air stream; air driven turbine means including a rotary impeller positioned for rotation by said air stream; linkage means operably coupling said turbine means and said air deflecting means to effect, on impingement of air on said impeller, movements of said deflecting means; shield means manually adjustable to a plurality of positions in the air stream flowing over said rotary impeller and effective in such positions to control the quantity of air flowing over said impeller, and thereby to control the rate of movement of said air deflecting means; and means upstream of said impeller for producing a flow of air through said port.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further characterized by the inclusion of a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said turbine means and including a manual operating, first end portion, and a second end portion supporting said shield means, said lever being selectively movable in provision of manually adjustable movement of said shield means.

3. Air flow control apparatus according to claim 2, and further characterized in that panel means is provided as the support structure for the recited elements,

.pivotal mounting of said lever being such that said first end portion is disposed to one side of said panel means and said second end position is disposed to the other side of said panel means, and in that said shield means extends transversely of said lever.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further characterized by the inclusion of tab means on said air shield means movable into position in which it is engageable by, and blocks rotation of, said impeller when said shield means is positioned to block substantially complete flow of air over said impeller.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 and further characterized in that said air deflecting means comprises parallelly extending louvers disposed over said port and mounted for pivotal movements relative to said air stream caused to flow through said port, and in that said linkage means comprises a cross-bar pivotally linked to each of said louvers so that movement of said cross-bar in the direction of its length causes said louvers to pivot in unison about their mounts, and means operably coupling said cross-bar to said turbine means to provide cyclic, toand-fro movement of said crossbar, in provision of oscillatory movements of saidlouvers.

Disclaimer 3,699,878.-Albert H. 1min, Richmond, Ind. AIR FLOW CONTROL AP- PARATUS. Patent dated Oct. 24, 1972. Disclaimer filed Jan. 13, 197 6, by the assignee, PMZco-Ford Corporation. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 1 of said patent.

[Oficz'al Gazette March '9, 1976.]

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 98,763, involving Patent No. 3,699,873, A. H. Irvin, AIR FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS, final judgment adverse to the patentee was rendered J an. 24, 1975, as to claim 1.

[Oficz'al Gazette May 6, 1,975.] 

1. Air flow control apparatus comprising: means defining a port through which a stream of air may flow; air deflecting means disposed in the air stream caused to flow through said port; means supporting said air deflecting means for movement in said air stream; air-driven turbine means including a rotary impeller positioned for rotation by said air stream; linkage means operably coupling said turbine means and said air deflecting means to effect, on impingement of air on said impeller, movements of said deflecting means; shield means manually adjustable to a plurality of positions in the air stream flowing over said rotary impeller and effective in such positions to control the quantity of air flowing over said impeller, and thereby to control the rate of movement of said air deflecting means; and means upstream of said impeller for producing a flow of air through said port.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further characterized by the inclusion of a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said turbine means and including a manual operating, first end portion, and a second end portion supporting said shield means, said lever being selectively movable in provision of manually adjustable movement of said shield means.
 3. Air flow control apparatus according to claim 2, and further characterized in that panel means is provided as the support structure for the recited elements, pivotal mounting of said lever being such that said first end portion is disposed to one side of said panel means and said second end position is disposed to the other side of said panel means, and in that said shield means extends transversely of said lever.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further characterized by the inclusion of tab means on said air shield means movable into position in which it is engageable by, and blocks rotation of, said impeller when said shield means is positioned to block substantially complete flow of air over said impeller.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 and further characterized in that said air deflecting means comprises parallelly extending louvers disposed over said port and mounted for pivotal movements relative to said air stream caused to flow through said port, and in that said linkage means comprises a cross-bar pivotally linked to each of said louvers so that movement of said cross-bar in the direction of its length causes said louvers to pivot in unison about their mounts, and means operably coupling said cross-bar to said turbine means to provide cyclic, to- and-fro movement of said cross-bar, in provision of oscillatory movements of said louvers. 